GRAND PRAIRIE NEWS

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GRAND PRAIRIE RENAMES 19TH STREET ML KING JR BOULEVARD

Hundreds gathered to celebrate the newly named ML King Jr. Boulevard during a ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 28 at David Daniels Elementary. The renaming of NW 19th Street and SW 19th Street was approved by Grand Prairie City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 17. The city worked with the property owners along the street, a MLK Blvd Committee and numerous local churches to achieve this momentous recognition. The act honors the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and reflects Grand Prairie’s philosophy and culture of inclusion, unity and kindness.

CALENDARS FEATURING WINNING PHOTOGRAPHY ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE

Steve Dye

Steve Dye is now serving as City Manager after Tom Hart’s retirement on Sept. 30, 2021. “I am honored to serve the people of Grand Prairie in this new role,” Dye said. “We have an incredibly strong and supportive City Council, leadership team and employee family, all devoted to public service benefiting the people and businesses of our city.” Dye is a lifelong Texan who received his Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State University and his Master of Criminal Justice from Tarleton State University. He began his police career with the Houston Police Department in 1984 and served with the Arlington and Garland Police Departments in various assignments including Patrol, SWAT, Street Level Narcotics, Mounted Patrol, and Traffic Unit as a Motorcycle Officer. He was an assistant chief in Garland and chief in Colleyville before being selected as Chief of Police for Grand Prairie in July of 2011. Dye was promoted to Deputy City Manager after serving for 36 years in law enforcement in 2018. His Deputy City Manager and Chief Operating Officer responsibilities included oversight of the city’s Police, Fire, Airport, Housing and Neighborhood Services, Solid Waste and Recycling, Community Revitalization, Animal Services, and Environmental Quality Departments. “Steve is a visionary leader,” Mayor Ron Jensen said. “He has been a vital part of our culture and world class service philosophy. We are very excited for this natural transition that will continue our forward momentum.” Dye is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police, LEMIT Command Staff Leadership Series, the FBI’s Leadership in Counterterrorism program, and the William “King” Cole City Management Series. He is committed to community governance and the formation of stakeholder partnerships to help improve and maintain a high quality of life in Grand Prairie. Steve founded UNIDOS, Cowboy Cops, and MotorCops for Kids community programs, as well as the GPPD Youth Boxing Gym initiative and his police departments were twice awarded the IACP Community Policing Award. Dye is a published author and instructor regarding crime reduction programs, police legitimacy, leadership, and community policing.

Residents may pick up a free 2022 calendar at several city locations while supplies last: › City Hall Central 300 W. Main St. › Warmack Library 760 Bardin Rd. › Lake Parks Administration 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy. › Main Library 901 Conover Dr. › Shotwell Library 2750 Graham St. › The Summit 2975 Esplanade › Airport 3116 S. Great Southwest Pkwy. The calendar features the winning photos from the calendar photo contest. All feature Grand Prairie places or people and are taken by Grand Prairie residents. For more information, you may contact: asprinkles@gptx.org

When you shop in Grand Prairie, the city’s portion of the sales tax stays in Grand Prairie and goes toward improving our quality of life. Now you can add a Shop and Ship tag to the gifts you buy in Grand Prairie by getting a set of 10 cards at the Warmack Library, Main Library, City Hall Central or Tourist Center (while supplies last). Let others know you choose to shop locally! When taxable goods are purchased in Grand Prairie, 8.25% is paid in sales tax. Of that, 6.25% goes to the state of Texas, and 2% goes to the city of Grand Prairie. That may not seem like much, but the city of Grand Prairie uses that 2% to operate the city. Here’s how the city uses its 2%: › Continual Park Improvements (voter approved) – 0.25% › Continual Street Improvements (voter approved) – 0.25% › Crime Control and Community Policing (voter approved) – 0.25% › Build and Operate the Epic Arts, Fitness and Entertainment Center (voter approved) – 0.25% › City General Fund – 1% It costs the city about $1 million to provide each of these city services: › Staff a fire station › Run an ambulance › Staff two police beats › Replace every stop sign in the city › Replace all the books at the Main Library › Keep all the city’s public swimming pools operational › Mow medians, rights-of-way, and channels, or › Maintain our park grounds

SIGN UP FOR ALERTGP

Receive alerts about the latest severe weather, emergencies, and other important community news by signing up for the City of Grand Prairie’s Emergency Notification System, AlertGP. This system enables the city to provide critical information quickly in various situations such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phone, email address, or through text message. Subscribe to AlertGP for FREE at gptx.org/AlertGP.

HOME REPAIR HELP FOR SENIORS

For seniors age 60 and older or disabled (any age) › Must own and occupy the home › Must meet certain income and other guidelines › Remodeling and cosmetic updates are not allowed › Repairs must meet HUD approved rehabilitation and safety standards For information, call Housing and Neighborhood Services at 972-2378166. You can help ensure the continuity of city services by continuing to shop in Grand Prairie!

MEDICATION DISPOSAL PROGRAM

Unwanted and outdated pharmaceuticals pose serious safety and environmental threats ranging from child poisonings and illegal use to contamination of streams and drinking water. Grand Prairie residents can bring medicines for disposal Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. to:

Grand Prairie Public Safety Building

First Floor 1525 Arkansas Lane

Grand Prairie, TX 75052 No appointment needed. Mark out personal information on the label.

The City of Grand Prairie participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Insurance rates are based on your property’s flood zone and its risk of being flooded. Standard homeowner insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. A specific FEMA flood insurance rider must be purchased through an insurance agent to obtain this protection. Homes do not have to be located in the 100 year FEMA floodplain to be eligible for flood insurance. Not all insurance agents offer this rider. Those who do offer the rider have agreed to provide the insurance coverage at a specific rate determined by FEMA. This means that you do not have to “shop around” to get the best deal. The cost will be the same no matter which insurance company you choose. For more information about obtaining flood insurance for both your structure and belongings, contact your insurance agent or visit: fema.gov/nfip.

NATURAL CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING DROP OFF LOCATIONS

Recycling drop-off locations for your natural Christmas tree (from December 26, 2021 to January 9, 2022) will be at: › Charley Taylor Recreation Center parking lot 601 E Grand Prairie Rd, Grand Prairie, TX 75051 › Parkhill Park parking lot 5100 Block of S. Robinson Rd., Grand Prairie, TX 75052 › Grand Prairie Landfill 1102 MacArthur Blvd., Grand Prairie, TX 75050 Please remove all ornaments, stands and plastic bags. Artificial trees or trees sprayed with artificial snow cannot be accepted for recycling. Acceptable trees will be recycled into mulch. Free mulch is available at the landfill to all Grand Prairie residents. Trees may also be left at curbside on your normal garbage collection day. However, these trees will not be recycled into mulch and will be collected as garbage. For more information, please call 972-237-8151.

INSTA-WORTHY SPOT

LOVE LIFE GRAND

The City's heART Project offers a photo op at Grand Prairie Farmers Market; 120 W. Main St. Future heART installations coming soon, including a fallen log in Waggoner Park; 2122 N. Carrier Pkwy. heArt Art is a Councilwoman Jorja Clemson project.

EPIC READS

Epic Reads is a self-service, electronic library kiosk, located inside The Epic. Use your Grand Prairie library card number (available for free at the kiosk, any library location or through the library website) to choose from more than 600 books, DVDs and audiobooks. Audiobooks come as “Playaways” - a discless, self-contained unit you plug your own earbuds into. When done, return your items to the bookdrop located next to the kiosk.

THE LAKE PARKS BOOK LOCKER

The Book Locker is a pickup and drop-off kiosk for library items. Place holds on library items by phone or through our website, and you will be notified when they have been delivered to the kiosk and are ready for pickup. Turn in any Grand Prairie library items (no matter where you checked them out) to the Book Locker. The Book Locker is located outside the Lake Park Operations building, at Lynn Creek and Lake Ridge Parkways. It’s available 24/7.

Learn more about library services and locations at www.gptx.org/library, or call us at 972-237-5700.

›The Main Library is located at 901 Conover Dr. › The Warmack Library is located at the corner of Bardin and

Robinson Rd. › The Shotwell Library is located inside the Shotwell Life

Center, at 2750 Graham St.